❝ Maybe the New Directions with the Warblers could do a big presentation for Christmas. You know how much the community needs us, Blaine. ❞
“I think that’s a great idea, Rachel. Let me pitch it to the Council at the next meeting. It could help us all to get out of our comfort zones and perform more. Wanna stick around here longer and toss ideas around? They’ll be more convinced to combine forces if I have an idea of what we’d do to pitch to them. Next round of coffee is my treat if we stay?”
Philip nodded, feeling slightly less nervous now that it seemed like Blaine was a very calm person. When he had pointed out the name on the cup, he couldn’t help the sheepish grin on his face. Maybe if his mind wasn’t elsewhere, he could have noticed it. Letting out a short laugh when he finished, he shook his head. “It’s uh – i-it’s Philip. I do agree with you that that would have been a very creepy.” Looking down at the book in his hand, he held it up. “The Universe and How we learn from it.” There was a small pause. “It was written by a colleague.”
The grin replaced by a bright smile as the cup was handed to him, he gratefully accepted it. “Thank you. I’m not too used to coffee shops just yet.”
His lips pressed together in an amused smile. Blaine wasn’t going to point out that he knew his name wasn’t Blaine because the cup he held onto had Philip written on the side. The joke served it’s purpose in getting the older gentleman to relax and not look like he was about to crawl under the table if he got any more anxious. “Very creepy,” he reiterated with a widening of his eyes. “Colleague? What do you do?” Daydreaming up a job that would fit this guy was easy. Professor? Librarian? Engineer with a panache for figuring out the universe? Stereotyping wasn’t his thing but Philip practically screamed any of the three.
Not a Warbler in sight. How early was he? “I think it is it’s own etiquette that you pick up without realizing there was one. Keep coming here and you’ll get it in no time.”
“Oh.” Well he was clearly a moron. His cheeks were quickly rosy as the other explained the situation. Hand it to him to muck up the first thing he did in a new place. “R-Right, yes. I-I’m very sorry, I must not have been paying too much attention.” Looking at the book a moment when the other had mentioned it, he gave a small shrug. “It uh – mainly talks on planetary nebulas and various stars. It is quite good, though.” He wasn’t going to mention that it had been his third time reading it.
Giving an apologetic smile, he held out the cup to the other. “I uh – I didn’t drink any of it, i-if you’re worried.”
“It’s no problem. Easy mistake to make. All the cups look the same.” Blaine’s eyes lit up as he tried to put the jittery man’s stutters to rest. It wasn’t his intention to jar him out of his book or rattle his nerves. Only to retrieve his coffee. “Except,” his thumb pointed at his name scribbled on the cup’s side. “Unless your name is Blaine? Then it just goes from a mistake to a coincidence that’s almost creepy.” Hearing what the book was about piqued Blaine’s curiosity and stirred his inner nerd. “Sounds interesting. What’s the title?”
Blaine noticed the apologetic look and felt even sorrier for the guy. “No. I’m not worried. If it means anything to you,” he held out the cup to it’s rightful owner. “Yours was safe with me too.”
Philip glanced up from his book, a perplexed expression on his face. Looking down at the cup he had been given, it did look a little bit different from his normal order, but he hadn’t really paid any mind to that.
“I must have gotten yours, then. How did you know it was mine?”
Blaine jerked to a stuttering stop beside the table. He followed the absentminded professor looking gentleman to trying to get his attention the whole way there. No luck. Other than getting a quiet chuckle out of the deal.
“I think you did. You grabbed it right as I was going trying to hurry back and pick it up. I figured since we were the only two at the counter? This one must be yours. That’s gotta be a really good book? I couldn’t pull your attention off it,” a bewildered but bright smile stayed put as he hoisted up the drink in his hand for inspection, “Look more familiar or…?”
pianokeysandbowties 